Archive: Arts & Entertainment

To open its 40th Mainstage Season, the Hangar Theatre will be producing  six-time Tony Award winning play RED, by John Logan, from June 12 until June 21, 2014. Directed by the Hangar Theatre's Artistic Director Jen Waldman, this modern drama about an artist's ambition and vulnerability, will feature Hangar Theatre veteran and Ithaca resident David Studwell, and Paul-Emile Cendron who will be making his Hangar Theatre debut.

RED reveals the story of one of the greatest painters of the twentieth century, Mark Rothko, who along with his assistant Ken, are struggling with the task of a recent commission from the Four Seasons restaurant in New York City.

The cast of RED in rehearsal with the Hangar Theatre's new artistic director Jen Waldman (left). Paul-Emile Cendron (center) and David Studwell as Mark Rothko. Photo credit: Rachel Philipson

It's 1958, and artist Mark Rothko has been offered the biggest commission in modern art: creating a series of paintings to hang in The Four Seasons restaurant in New York City. Now Rothko must live up to the challenge as he and his young assistant work feverishly in his Lower East Side studio apartment to complete this task.  As Rothko and Ken struggle to define their artistic beliefs, the two men go head-to-head on the purpose of the art that they're creating and explore the relationship that an artist has with his own creation. Red is a riveting character study that dares to expose the ambition and vulnerability necessary for a great artist to thrive.

RED was first produced by the Donmar Warehouse, London in December of 2009.  In March of 2010, the play was transferred to the John Golden Theater on Broadway where it won its six Tony Awards including Best Play.

v10i21